Loki's hands were tied behind his back, as he was lead through the jeering crowd to face the punishment in store for him. He paid no attention to the taunts and sneers thrown his way, they were below his notice. They all wanted to see him break, but he would not give them the satisfaction The guards let him to the foot of Odin's throne; where a sharp kick in the back of his legs sent him forcefully to his knees, followed by peals of laughter. Humiliation burned within him as he lifted his head to face the Allfater, a forced smirk plastered to his face.
Odin rose to his feet and read out Loki's punishment. As the final word was read, fear stirred in Loki's stomach but he would never show it." Thor rose to his feet from the seat at Odin's right and proceeded to ready the curved needle and thread. Loki's stomach dropped, not Thor, anyone but him. Loki took long breaths to calm himself; the only sound he could hear now was the rapid pounding of his own heart in his ears. As Thor approached his little brother, Loki looked up at him for any sign that he didn't want to do this. Anything. But Thor would not look him in the eye. He cupped Loki's chin in his hand, lifting his face upward, lifting the needle and long leather chord in his right hand. Loki braced himself and tried not to scream as the needle first pierced the skin. Under, over, under, over. Thor continued, his face void of emotion. Loki felt each stitch, felt the chord slide under his skin as blood dripped down his face. Loki had never known torment such as this before; pain, rage, and humiliation filled him. Tears filled his eyes as Thor and the rest of the court blurred together. He heard their laughter, felt the needle slice into the soft flesh. Loki tried to wrench his face from Thor's hand, biting back a scream as the needle sank deeper into the skin. Thor gripped the needle harder, continuing on his task. That was when Loki gave up; he let the tears fall. He tried to scream, but the sound never reached his lips.
Loki sank to the floor as Thor finished his task. The court filed out of the throne room, and their laughter and jeering filled his ears. As he lay on the floor, he was now beyond caring, he would give anything to make this end. Humiliation and pain was all he was aware of as the last people exited the room.
Loki lay on the floor, the blood from the stiches mixing with his tears. He looked across the room to see a figure lurking in the shadows. Thor stepped out into the light and slowly approached his brother. He pulled a knife from his belt and gently cut the ropes binding Loki's hands together. Thor stepped back cautiously, as if in pain. Loki grit his teeth and slowly pulled himself to his feet.
"Loki." Thor's voice cracked his blue eyes filled with despair. He took a step toward his younger brother, now mute. Loki backed away, turning away from the only person who ever cared, and ran from the room.
Loki raced down corridor after corridor, being chased only by the rapid beating of his own heart. Magic exploded from his hands, shattering glass and splintering wood. He lashed out again and again with his magic, engulfing the furnishings with green flame. "They were monsters, all of them." Something inside him broke; he stumbled backwards and sank down against the wall, burying his face in his hands. "No, they weren't monsters, he was." A wail rose from his chest, only to be strangled by his mangled lips. Tears now flowed freely down his face, as sobs threatened to choke him. Loki looked around at the smoldering hallway. "They had done it," he thought, "he was broken."